Blog

Welcome to your dream home! Conveniently located in a safe & desirable area. This lovingly maintained and well kept home is waiting for you. The main floor is easily suited for a mortgage helper, with 1 bedroom, and a 2nd bedroom easily setup. There are new carpets in the living/dining and bedroom. The upper floor boasts hardwood floors in the living and dining areas, new carpets in the 2 bedrooms and new paint throughout. Attached to the master bedroom is a huge walk-in closet. The kitchen layout is ideal, with a huge island. The open concept kitchen adjoins the dining, which opens to the patio. Fantastic layout for family and entertaining! 4 min to Skytrain by car, close to bus & schools. Spacious fenced secure large backyard. Perfect for kids & pets, and BBQ. Open House Sat 1 Dec 1 - 3.

Welcome to The MacGregor. This rarely available 2 bed 2 full bath well kept unit represents a GREAT VALUE, as well as an Excellent Investment! Why pay rent when you can Build EQUITY! This fabulous property is CLOSE to EVERYTHING! It is just steps from the Skytrain, Bus Terminal, Food, Shopping, Schools, Clinic, Community Centre & more. Just steps to the playground and Gaston & Melbourne Parks. You get easy access to downtown and UBC. Great views of North Shore mountains, City, and Gaston Park. One (1) secured parking and storage locker included. DON'T MISS THIS!

Excellent location! See it before it gets snapped up! Well priced! This bright condo has a great floor plan. Quiet side of condo; very private. The bedrooms are on either side of the living area; very private for family or roommate. The master bedroom has a large closet and full ensuite bathroom. The kitchen has lots of counter and cabinet space and has easy access to the dining & living rooms. Gas fireplace in the living room. Good sized balcony. Very close to all amenities shopping, mall, restaurants, transport, library & Skytrain. Close to City Hall, City Centre Aquatic Complex, Community Centre, Lafarge Lake & Douglas College. Well kept building. Great unit! Call for private showing.

What is a home anyway? Some say it’s where your family is. For some others, home is where the heart is. In any case, your home is your safe haven; your castle! Whatever the case, home is something that you form an emotional attachment to, some people more than others.

So how do you protect it, and does it matter whether you rent or own your home? One can find arguments to support either scenario of renting and buying your home. And as individuals, we each have our preferences. Listed below are some of the advantages and disadvantages of each scenario.

Advantages of Renting your Home

Advantages of Buying your Home

There is no need for a sizable down payment; and if you do have money for a down payment, investing it wisely may help you get a good return.

You don’t have a Landlord who may kick you out anytime

You can move to a different home with little notice if you do not like it or because of a new job

You are building equity as you pay off your mortgage; this helps you build wealth!

You don’t have to worry about maintenance, taxes and repairs, etc.

You are able to renovate and decorate your home however you wish

You could have an income stream if you rent out a spare bedroom, or a basement suite

If the housing market goes up, you stand to gain from your home. And the capital gains on your home (principal residence only) is tax free

Real property has been shown to not only be a good hedge against inflation, but also to provide good gains especially over the medium to long term

Disadvantages of Renting your Home

Disadvantages of Buying your Home

You cannot recover the cost of rental paid.

For most people, you are committed to a medium to long term investment.

You cannot control rental increases; there might even be increases when house prices remain stable or even decrease

You cannot count on a quick sale of your home if you need to move away to someplace else; e.g. new job, etc.

You may have to change furniture every time you move; a lot of spaces need specific-sized furniture or even customized ones

You need to pay maintenance and tax on your home as well as fix any problems that may arise.

You do not have the security of knowing that you can stay in the home long term, even if that’s what you want.

If the housing market goes down, you are exposed to a potential loss, if you need to sell.

Excellent location! Rarely available! See it before it gets snapped up! Well priced! This bright condo with a great floor plan shows well. Quiet side of condo; very private. The bedrooms are on either side of the living area; very private for family or roommate. The master bedroom has a large closet and full ensuite bathroom. The kitchen has lots of counter and cabinet space and has easy access to the dining & living rooms. Nice gas fireplace in the living room. Good sized balcony. Very close to all amenities shopping, mall, restaurants, transport, library & Skytrain. Close to City Hall, City Centre Aquatic Complex, Community Centre, Lafarge Lake & Douglas College. Well kept building. Move in and enjoy.

There are many excellent choices for higher education in the Vancouver area, catering to a wide range of interests and levels.

Two well known ones are the University of British Columbia (UBC) and Simon Fraser University (SFU). UBC is ranked 31st in the world by the Times Higher Education 2013-2014 Ranking, and SFU is ranked 2nd in Canada in 2014 by Maclean’s in the comprehensive university category. Both universities offer competitive programs in Business Administration, which is a popular field of study for many Asian students.

Vancouver is home to Emily Carr University, a renowned art and design institution. Opportunities for college education with opportunities to transfer into university programs are also offered by Langara College and Douglas College. There is also Vancouver Community College which offers full-time, part-time and continuing studies programs.

Vancouver is a popular destination for students pursuing English (ESL) education. They can either study for formal qualifications for university admissions or simply for self enrichment.

*Disclaimer: The contents in this blog DO NOT constitute advice or recommendations for Readers . Anyone interested in Investing in Vancouver, whether for Education, Lifestyle and Real Estate is advised to seek independent professional advice for all matters. This blog is NOT intended to solicit or induce the breach of an existing contract. E & OE.

Canada’s high academic standards and rigorous quality controls mean that you’ll be earning a high-quality education that will open doors for your future and benefit your career over the long term. A Canadian degree, diploma or certificate is globally recognized as being equivalent to those obtained from the United States or Commonwealth countries.

Affordable Education

The quality of education and living standards in Canada are amongst the highest in the world, but the cost of living and tuition fees for international students are generally lower than in other countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom. As such, Canada is often the preferred choice for students attending college or university.

Multicultural Society

With almost all of the world’s ethnic groups represented in Canada, it’s hard not to find ethnic foods and recreation activities associated with specific cultures. In fact, your international student advisor can help you get in touch with any number of ethnic clubs and associations for you to join while you’re here.

Healthy and Safe Communities

While you may have heard of or experienced Canadians’ friendly and open nature, you may not have known that the United Nations consistently ranks Canada as one of the best places in the world to live. As an international student in Canada, you’ll enjoy all of the same freedoms which protect Canadians – respect for human rights, equality, and a stable and peaceful society.

World-Class Language Education

Did you know that Canada is a bilingual country and is considered a world leader in language training? Since teaching French and English as a first and second language is an integral part of a Canadian education, you will be able to improve your fluency and capacity for either language as you further your studies.

Exciting Campus Lifestyle

Canada’s post-secondary campuses aren’t only wired with the latest in sophisticated technology, but countless other modern amenities as well. From Olympic-quality sports facilities to public concert halls and art galleries, Canada’s post-secondary campuses offer you enormous possibilities for learning and leisure. Plus, you’ll have incredible opportunities to meet like-minded individuals and gain valuable experience through student-run governments, radio, newspapers and businesses.

Innovative and Abundant Research Opportunities

Since research is one of the key components of a Canadian post-secondary education, you’ll have ample opportunity to become a part of this vibrant aspect of education. In Canada, government and industry together support research including: telecommunications, medicine, agriculture, computer technology, and environmental science.

Land of Possibilities

Under Canada’s highly dynamic and hands-on academic environment, you will not only acquire knowledge and skills in analysis and communication, but you will also learn how to express yourself, demonstrate your creativity, and develop your self-confidence! Teachers and professors are always available and eager to help with lessons, and studies fuse academic excellence with interaction and collaboration in the classroom.

Possibility of Immigration

Did you know that some international students with Canadian credentials and Canadian work experience may apply for permanent residency without having to leave Canada? For more information about the possibility of immigration to Canada once your schooling is complete, please visit the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website. ♦

*Disclaimer: The contents in this blog DO NOT constitute advice or recommendations for Readers . Anyone interested in Investing in Vancouver, whether for Education, Lifestyle and Real Estate is advised to seek independent professional advice for all matters. This blog is NOT intended to solicit or induce the breach of an existing contract. E & OE.